Gynecological cancer profile in the Yaounde population, Cameroon

Abstract

This population-based retrospective study was carried out in the Yaounde Population Cancer Registry (YPCR) at the General Hospital Yaounde, Cameroon. The aim was to find out the socio-economic, epidemiologic, anatomic and pathologic profile of patients with gynecological cancers in the Yaounde population. The database of the registry was reviewed between January 1, 2004 and June 30 2005 (18 months). All cases of microscopically confirmed gynecological cancers registered within this period were recruited. Defined as gynecological cancers are cancers of the breast (in women), ovary, uterine corpus, vulva, vagina, and cervix. The results showed that gynecological cancers have a monthly incidence of 30 cases. Whereas cancers of the placenta, vagina, breast, and ovary affect younger adults, endometrial, vulval and cervical cancers predominate in the elderly. 58% of the women were aged between 34-54 years. Most patients are from the West (30.55%), Centre (28.90%) and Littoral (10.00%) provinces respectively. The commonest cancers are the breast (48.12%), cervix (40.18%), and ovary (5.82%) at respective average ages of 42.80 years (19-76 years range), 53.08 years (24-78 years range) and 44.22 years (9-75 years range). Cancers of the uterine corpus are rare. Most patients were illiterate, of low to average socio-economic status, presenting at advanced stage of disease. Cancer of the breast is common in the upper social class; while malignancies of the cervix, endometrium, and vagina predominate in the low and middle classes. Only 17.5% of our patients had been previously screened for any form of cancer prior to present disease. We had no data on family history of cancer. We recommend intensive public health education and sensitization of women on primary and secondary prevention especially for cervical and breast cancers. Gynaecological services should be vulgarized and existing ones improved with defined referral and counter referral systems. Further in-depth studies to document trends on cancer survival are recommended.

Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 3(1) 2006: 437-444